I Against I

Last updated

I Against I
BadBrainsIAgainstI.jpg
Studio album by
Bad Brains
ReleasedNovember 21, 1986 [1]
Genre
Length31:53
Label SST (065)
Producer Ron Saint Germain
Bad Brains chronology
Rock for Light
(1983)		I Against I
(1986)		 Live
(1988)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [3]
Pitchfork 9.3/10 [4]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [5]
Spin Alternative Record Guide 9/10 [6]
The Village Voice B− [7]

I Against I is the third studio album by the American rock band Bad Brains. It was released on November 21, 1986 [1] through SST Records with the catalog number SST 065. The best-selling album in the band's catalog, I Against I finds the band branching out from their early hardcore punk style to touch on funk, soul, reggae and heavy metal. It is also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die . The title track was a Paul Rachman-directed video (Rachman would go on to direct the documentary film American Hardcore ).

Contents

The title I Against I presumably refers to the common Rastafarian phrase I and I , which is used in place of the first-person plural (i.e. we) to signify the union of the speaker, audience, and Jah (God) in love and peace.

At the producer's suggestion, the vocals to "Sacred Love" were recorded over the phone from the prison where H.R. was serving time on a marijuana distribution charge.

Legacy

I Against I has influenced diverse rock artists. Ska punk band Sublime and its follow-up project, Sublime with Rome, frequently cover "House of Suffering" and bassist Eric Wilson said that I Against I inspired them to blend different genres. [8] [9] The Dillinger Escape Plan singer Greg Puciato named it one of the four albums that changed his life, as well as "a critical step" in shaping his vocal style. [10] [11] Max Cavalera of Sepultura states that the beginning of 1996 song "Straighthate" was probably inspired by "I Against I" since his band admired the Bad Brains. [12] According to Harley Flanagan of the Cro-Mags, the verse riff in 1986's "The Age of Quarrel" was based on the last part of "I Against I". [13] Tim Commerford of Rage Against the Machine mentioned the album as one of his biggest influences. [14] Danko Jones called the title track "one of the greatest songs ever written as far as I'm concerned." [15] Beppo of German punk band Spermbirds affirmed, "I Against I had a huge impact on us, they taught us that you can also be hard by playing slow." [16]

"I Against I" was covered by Jeff Buckley in 1992, [17] BoySetsFire and Brother's Keeper in 1999, [18] [19] and Lamb of God in 2018; [20] "House of Suffering" has been covered by Sublime in 1995, [21] Machine Head in 1999 [22] and The Bled in 2005; [23] "Let Me Help" was covered by Potshot in 2000; [24] [ better source needed ] and "Sacred Love" was covered by Storm Large in 2014. [25] In 2019, Bad Brains rerecorded the title track with rapper Denzel Curry as a guest vocalist for a Spotify single. [26]

"Re-Ignition" has been sampled on "Daddy's Home" by Chubb Rock, [27] "Ice Man Cometh" by 2 Black 2 Strong MMG,[ citation needed ] "Ultrasonic Sound" by Hive (which later appeared on The Matrix soundtrack),[ citation needed ] and on a remix of the 2004 song "Roll Call" by Lil Jon and Ice Cube. [28] A live version of "Re-Ignition" was featured in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock . [29] "Re-Ignition" appeared on a 2019 episode of Black Lightning . [30] The Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation , which names each episode after a 1980s song, named an episode after the song "I Against I".[ citation needed ]

Track listing

All songs written by Paul Hudson, Darryl Jenifer, and Gary Miller except where noted.

  1. "Intro" (Jenifer, Miller) – 1:02
  2. "I Against I" – 2:50
  3. "House of Suffering" (P. Hudson, Miller) – 2:29
  4. "Re-Ignition" – 4:16
  5. "Secret 77" – 4:04
  6. "Let Me Help" – 2:17
  7. "She's Calling You" (P. Hudson, Jenifer) – 3:42
  8. "Sacred Love" – 3:40
  9. "Hired Gun" – 3:45
  10. "Return to Heaven" – 3:19

Personnel

Bad Brains
Production

Release history

RegionDate
United StatesNovember 21, 1986
United KingdomFebruary 1987

Accolades

YearPublicationCountryAccoladeRank
1989 OOR Netherlands"The Best Albums of the 80s"29 [31]
1995 Alternative Press United States"Top 99 Of '85 to '95"9 [32]
1995BigOSingapore"The 100 Best Albums from 1975 to 1995"99 [33]
1999 Tylko Rock Poland"100 Albums that Shook Polish Rock"39 [34]
2000 Terrorizer United Kingdom"100 Most Important Albums of the Eighties"— [35]
2002 Revolver United States"The 69 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time"32 [36]
2003 Blender United States"500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die"— [37]
2004 Les Inrockuptibles France"50 Years of Rock'n'Roll"— [38]
2005Robert DimeryUnited States 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die — [39]
2006Gary MulhollandUnited Kingdom"261 Greatest Albums Since Punk and Disco"— [40]
2008VOLUMEFrance"200 Records that Changed the World"— [41]
2008 Tom Moon United States"1000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die"— [42]
2016 Loudwire United States"Top 80 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1980s"49 [43]
2016 Classic Rock United Kingdom"The 10 Essential Funk Rock Albums"— [2]
"—" denotes an unordered list.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Brains</span> American punk band

Bad Brains are an American band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1976. They are widely regarded as pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members have objected to the use of this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of other genres like funk, heavy metal, hip hop, and soul. Rolling Stone magazine called them "the mother of all black hard-rock bands", and they have been cited as a seminal influence to numerous other subgenres in addition to hardcore punk, including various subgenres of heavy metal, such as thrash/speed metal, alternative metal, and funk metal. Bad Brains are followers of the Rastafari movement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dillinger Escape Plan</span> American metalcore band

The Dillinger Escape Plan is an American metalcore band. The band was formed in 1997 in Morris Plains, New Jersey by guitarist Ben Weinman, bassist Adam Doll, vocalist Dimitri Minakakis, and drummer Chris Pennie. The band's use of dissonance, odd time signatures, polyrhythms and unconventional drum patterns became a staple of their sound, although later albums incorporated more melody, and influences from a range of genres. The band's lineup shifted numerous times throughout its existence; by the time the group dissolved, Weinman was the only remaining founding member. The final lineup also included longtime members Liam Wilson on bass, Greg Puciato as lead vocalist, and Billy Rymer on the drum kit, alongside then-newcomer Kevin Antreassian as rhythm guitarist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darryl Jenifer</span> Musical artist

Darryl Jenifer is an American musician, widely known as the bassist for the hardcore punk band Bad Brains and for the rap-rock group The White Mandingos. He appeared in TV's Illest Minority Moments presented by ego trip and the three-part ego trip's Race-O-Rama on VH1.

Mathcore is a subgenre of hardcore punk and metalcore influenced by post-hardcore, extreme metal and math rock that developed during the 1990s. Bands in the genre emphasize complex and fluctuant rhythms through the use of irregular time signatures, polymeters, syncopations and tempo changes. Early mathcore lyrics were addressed from a realistic worldview and with a pessimistic, defiant, resentful or sarcastic point of view.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Puciato</span> American musician

Gregory John Puciato is an American musician best known as the former lead vocalist and lyricist of the metalcore band the Dillinger Escape Plan. In addition to being a solo artist, he currently fronts Better Lovers and previously provided vocals in the Black Queen and Killer Be Killed, the latter of which he also played guitar for. In 2018, Puciato and visual artist Jesse Draxler co-founded the art collective and record label Federal Prisoner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">H.R. (musician)</span> American musician (born 1956)

Paul D. Hudson, known professionally as H.R., is an American musician who leads the hardcore punk band Bad Brains, and is an instrumental figure in the development of the genre. His vocal delivery has been described as diverse, ranging from a rapid-fire nasal whine, to feral growling and screeches, to smooth near-crooning or staccato reggae rhymes. He has departed the band periodically to pursue solo efforts that are more reggae than Bad Brains' punk sound. He is the older brother of Earl Hudson, Bad Brains' drummer.

<i>Bad Brains</i> (album) 1982 studio album by Bad Brains

Bad Brains is the first album released by American hardcore punk/reggae band Bad Brains. Recorded in 1981 and released on the cassette-only label ROIR on February 5, 1982, many fans refer to it as "The Yellow Tape" because of its yellow packaging.

<i>Live</i> (Bad Brains album) 1988 live album by Bad Brains

Live is a live album by hardcore punk and reggae pioneers Bad Brains. It was recorded during a 1987 tour. "Day Tripper", a Beatles cover, appears on some editions. After the tour finished, the band commenced a series of departures, breakups, and reunions.

<i>The Youth Are Getting Restless</i> 1990 live album by Bad Brains

The Youth Are Getting Restless is a live album from hardcore punk and reggae pioneers Bad Brains. It was recorded at the Paradiso Theater in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in 1987 by the VPRO. The show was part of the band's I Against I tour. It remains one of the group's best selling albums.

<i>Quickness</i> 1989 studio album by Bad Brains

Quickness, also known as With the Quickness, is the fourth full-length studio album by hardcore punk pioneers Bad Brains. At the time of its release, it was the best selling Bad Brains album and also featured an MTV video for the lead-off track "Soul Craft" directed by Paul Rachman who later went on to produce and direct the feature documentary American Hardcore. Drummer Earl Hudson, though pictured on the cover, does not play on the record, as drum parts were instead performed by Mackie Jayson of the Cro-Mags. In an interview with MTV, guitarist Dr. Know said that the album's title comes from urgency and swiftness.

<i>A Bad Brains Reunion Live from Maritime Hall</i> 2001 live album by Bad Brains

A Bad Brains Reunion Live at Maritime Hall is the third live album from hardcore punk and reggae pioneers Bad Brains. It marks the reunion of the band after a four-year breakup. At the time, the band were unable to use the name "Bad Brains" as they were embattled in legal turmoil with their prior management company. For over three years, the band had to tour under the name "Soul Brains" even though the original lineup of Bad Brains was intact.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Hornbrook</span> American musician

Christopher Aaron Hornbrook is an American drummer and a founding member of metalcore/post-hardcore band, Poison the Well. He also is working with Dhani Harrison and Killer Be Killed and The Black Queen singer, Greg Puciato. From 2014 to 2018, Hornbrook was also a member of Senses Fail.

<i>Banned in D.C.</i> 2003 compilation album by Bad Brains

Banned In D.C. is a compilation of hardcore punk and reggae songs by Bad Brains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bad Brains discography</span>

This is a comprehensive discography of Bad Brains, a Washington, D.C.-based hardcore punk band that also plays reggae and uses styles of funk and heavy metal into their music. To date, the band has released nine full-length studio albums, four EPs, four live recordings, one compilation album, one demo album, and more than a dozen singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sublime (band)</span> American rock band

Sublime is an American rock band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band's original lineup consisted of Bradley Nowell, Eric Wilson (bass), and Bud Gaugh (drums). Lou Dog, Nowell's dalmatian, was the mascot of the band. Nowell died of a heroin overdose in 1996, resulting in the band's breakup. In 1997, songs such as "What I Got", "Santeria", "Wrong Way", "Doin' Time", and "April 29, 1992 (Miami)" were released to U.S. radio.

<i>Option Paralysis</i> 2010 studio album by The Dillinger Escape Plan

Option Paralysis is the fourth studio album by American mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan, released on March 23, 2010. After having fulfilled their contract with Relapse Records, the band released the album through Party Smasher Inc., their own new imprint in collaboration with French record label Season of Mist. It marks The Dillinger Escape Plan's first release to feature Billy Rymer on drums, since Gil Sharone left the band in September 2008 due to the frequent touring schedule and to focus on his brother's band Stolen Babies.

<i>One of Us Is the Killer</i> 2013 studio album by The Dillinger Escape Plan

One of Us Is the Killer is the fifth studio album by American mathcore band The Dillinger Escape Plan, released on May 14, 2013. One of Us Is the Killer is the band's second release under their Party Smasher, Inc. imprint. The CD was released as a standard version that can be picked up at most record stores, and a limited version with a scratch-off cover that can only be bought at Best Buy containing two bonus tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killer Be Killed</span> American heavy metal band

Killer Be Killed is an American heavy metal supergroup founded by Dillinger Escape Plan vocalist Greg Puciato and Soulfly frontman Max Cavalera in early 2011. The lineup also features Mastodon bassist and co-vocalist Troy Sanders and Converge drummer Ben Koller. The band had slowly been working on material before announcing its name in October 2013, along with their signing to Nuclear Blast. The group's self-titled debut record was released in 2014. In September 2020, the group returned with a new single, and released their second album Reluctant Hero in November of that year.

"Honey Bucket" is a song by American rock band Melvins. The song was released as the third single from their fifth album, Houdini (1993). It is the fifth track off the album.

<i>Dissociation</i> (album) 2016 studio album by The Dillinger Escape Plan

Dissociation is the sixth album by American metal band The Dillinger Escape Plan. It was released on October 14, 2016 by Party Smasher Inc. Alongside the announcement of the album, the band revealed it would be their last, breaking up after the album's touring cycle.

References

  1. 1 2 "Bad Brains on Instagram: "i Against i, the third studio album from Bad Brains was released in November of 1986. 33 years later in November 2019, here we are listening to this album recalling the whole process of creating and recording it so many years ago. We updated i Against i with new visuals on our youtube channel. Many people, musicians and non-musicians alike, have pointed to this album as a major influence of theirs over the years and continue to do so.. Have listen, and if this album was a significant influence on you, please let us know how! #iagainsti #pma #badbrains #punkrock"".
  2. 1 2 McIver, Joel (July 24, 2016). "The 10 Essential Funk Rock Albums". Classic Rock . Archived from the original on June 6, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  3. ↑ Anderson, Rick. "I Against I – Bad Brains". AllMusic . Retrieved July 8, 2012.
  4. ↑ Ayers, Nabil (July 26, 2020). "Bad Brains: I Against I". Pitchfork . Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  5. ↑ Frere-Jones, Sasha (2004). "Bad Brains". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp.  34–35. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8.
  6. ↑ Stovall, Natasha (1995). "Bad Brains". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 22–24. ISBN   0-679-75574-8.
  7. ↑ Christgau, Robert (May 5, 1987). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice . Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  8. ↑ Bienstock, Richard (June 6, 2019). "'Blessings': Rome Ramirez of Sublime with Rome Talks New Album, Gear and the Band's Legacy". Guitar World . Archived from the original on June 7, 2019. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  9. ↑ Bickerdike, Jennifer Otter (May 14, 2018). "Why I Love… Bad Brains' I Against I – Eric Wilson". Longlivevinyl.net. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  10. ↑ Acharya, Kiran (September 28, 2018). "A Match Thrown On A Gasoline Field: Greg Puciato On Trauma, Dillinger And The Black Queen". Kerrang! . United Kingdom. Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  11. ↑ Carter, Daniel P. (February 19, 2017). "#MusicRuinedMyLife with Greg Puciato from The Dillinger Escape Plan". BBC Online (audio). Event occurs at 5:22-5:44. Archived from the original on February 23, 2017. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  12. ↑ Gerritse, Randy (December 24, 2016). "We are very percussive people". Metalonloud.com. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  13. ↑ Flanagan, Harley. "Biting Off Thumbs In The Age Of Quarrel With The Cro-Mags". Kerrang! . Archived from the original on August 18, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  14. ↑ Kerr, Dave (July 28, 2016). "Under the Influence: Tim Commerford". The Skinny . Archived from the original on July 31, 2016. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  15. ↑ Prato, Greg (July 3, 2013). "Danko Jones". Songfacts . Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  16. ↑ Korac, Marko (June 21, 2014). "Scream Back: An Interview With Spermbirds". OCCII. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  17. ↑ Aston, Martin (Autumn 1992). "Jeff Buckley's first ever interview, 1992". New York (published June 30, 2014). Archived from the original on February 1, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  18. ↑ Hundey, Jason. "Various Artists | Never Give In: A Tribute to Bad Brains". AllMusic . Archived from the original on June 4, 2012. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Brother's Keeper | Forever Never Ending". AllMusic . Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Burn The Priest (Lamb Of God) release track 'I Against I', supporting Slayer in Europe". The Rockpit . May 11, 2018. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  21. ↑ Fredkin, Alex (July 2013). "Sublime 3 Ring Circus: Live at the Palace, October 21, 1995". Modern Drummer . Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  22. ↑ Flynn, Robb (August 7, 2017). "HAPPY BIRTHDAY "THE BURNING RED"!". Machinehead1.com. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  23. ↑ "My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy Punk 'Hawk'". Billboard.com . August 23, 2005. Archived from the original on September 20, 2014.
  24. ↑ "TRIBUTE TO BAD BRAINS". Fril.jp. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  25. ↑ Shapiro, Gregg (October 15, 2014). "Happiness is a chat with Storm Large". Bay Area Reporter . Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  26. ↑ Mench, Chris (July 31, 2019). "Denzel Curry Reimagines "I Against I" Alongside Hardcore Pioneers Bad Brains". Genius . Archived from the original on August 1, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  27. ↑ Serwer, Jesse (October 16, 2012). "The 77 Best Rock Samples in Rap History". Complex . Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  28. ↑ Nordeng, Jørgen (October 26, 2018). "En verkende byll på crossover-begrepets rumpe". ITromsø (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  29. ↑ McElroy, Griffin (August 17, 2010). "Full Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock track list revealed". Engadget . Archived from the original on August 26, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  30. ↑ Nichols, Anthony (October 27, 2019). "Black Lightning: The Puppet Master". Nayahscifi.com. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  31. ↑ "OOR – The Best Albums of the 80s". OOR . Retrieved February 2, 2010.
  32. ↑ "Alternative Press – Top 99 of '85 to '95". Alternative Press . Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
  33. ↑ "Blender – The 100 Best Albums from 1975 to 1995". BigO. Archived from the original on June 21, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
  34. ↑ "Tylko Rock – 100 Albums that Shook Polish Rock". Tylko Rock . Retrieved February 2, 2010.
  35. ↑ "Terrorizer – 100 Most Important Albums of the Eighties". Terrorizer . Archived from the original on May 15, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
  36. ↑ "Revolver – The 69 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time". Revolver . Archived from the original on June 21, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
  37. ↑ "Blender – 500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die". Blender . Archived from the original on June 21, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
  38. ↑ "Les Inrockuptibles – 50 Years of Rock'n'Roll". Les Inrockuptibles . Retrieved February 2, 2010.
  39. ↑ Dimery, Robert. 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. p. 856.
  40. ↑ "Gary Mulholland – 261 Greatest Albums Since Punk and Disco". Gary Mulholland. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
  41. ↑ "VOLUME – 200 Records that Changed the World". VOLUME. Archived from the original on November 24, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
  42. ↑ "Tom Moon – 1000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die" (PDF). Tom Moon. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 5, 2009. Retrieved February 2, 2010.
  43. ↑ "Top 80 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1980s". Loudwire . January 13, 2016. Archived from the original on October 1, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.